Oxfordshire uses Siemens’ traffic weight enforcement system to protect bridge

189 Siemens’ Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras have been deployed to enforce weight restrictions on one of the oldest river crossings on the River Thames at Newbridge, UK. The new traffic enforcement system has been introduced by Trading Standards in Oxfordshire whose officers will monitor the bridge and enforce the limit. Vehicles exceeding 18 tonnes maximum gross weight can be fined up to £1000 ($1,300).

The solution operates on the A415 between Abingdon and Witney, and is designed with the intention of maintaining an enforcement schedule and permitted vehicle lists. Its schedule will provide selected enforcement periods required for other types of restriction, with the permitted lists identifying council vehicles that are permitted to use the route irrespective of their weight limit, such as refuse collection, emergency response or road maintenance vehicles.

In Newbridge, the cameras have been installed onto existing CCTV columns with the intention of minimising disruption and cost. The equipment uses 3G communications and only requires a power connection, aiding the installation and flexibility of camera deployment.

Joe Moxham, UK product sales manager at Siemens ITS, said: “Evidence downloaded from the cameras can be used to demonstrate that drivers have committed an offence, allowing the Trading Standards team to investigate with knowledge and a reliable witness of events, providing enforcement quality images of the vehicle in contravention during any time of the day or night, and in all weather conditions.”

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council said: “The County Council is committed to protecting this irreplaceable historic bridge and this technology allows us to do just that. We are responding to concerns from the local community and are alerting drivers of heavy vehicles so they can find other routes.”